A Guide to Drugs, Addiction, and Rehab in Youngstown, OH

If you or a family member is in search of a Youngstown Ohio drug and alcohol treatment center, high quality, confidential, residential help is available just a short distance away. Because Youngstown is located on the Mahoning River in northeastern Ohio, just 10 miles west of the Pennsylvania state line, living in Youngstown places you in a unique and interesting city that lies halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Historical Youngstown

A New Yorker named John Young settled in the area in 1796 after purchasing thousands of acres of land from the Western Reserve Land Company for a little more than $16,000. By 1802, the city was named Youngstown. Soon people from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey increased the city’s population, and it became the county seat in 1876.

The building of the Erie Canal and the arrival of the railroad in Youngstown paved the way for future economic growth in the industrial age. The coal and steel industries brought immigrants to Youngstown from Europe. The population became even more diverse after World War II ended and again by the 1970s when more Spanish-speaking residents moved to the area.

Life in Youngstown

Once famous for its connection to the steel industry, this Rust Belt city is presently experiencing a renaissance that is both cultural and economic. The urban and downtown neighborhoods are surrounded by rural farmland offering city residents farmer and Amish market goods. The downtown is revitalized with new restaurants, shops and galleries.

Youngstown is a College Town

Of the roughly 525,000 people who live in Youngstown, about 12,600 of them go to Youngstown State University, bringing a youthful zeal to the town. A third of the population in Youngstown is between the ages of 45 to 64. The median age of residents is 41.4 years old. The city’s racial mix includes 44.2% of people identifying as white, 39.2% as black and 10.3% as Hispanic.

New construction projects and an effort to attract business growth are revitalizing the downtown, especially with the help of Youngstown 2010, an organization that has partnered with the state university.

Substance Abuse in Youngstown

According to a monitoring study conducted by the Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network, the most common substances abused and readily found in Youngstown are:

Alcohol

Marijuana

Prescription Opioids

Heroin

Cocaine (crack and powder)

Sedative-Hypnotics

Methamphetamine

Mahoning County, where Youngstown is located, sustained 50 overdose deaths, mostly related to heroin use, in just one year.

Youngstown War on Drugs

Police often conduct drug raids in the city that led to multiple arrests. In one case, the federal government charged a multi-state drug ring with heroin trafficking in Youngstown.

In Youngstown, the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force (LETF) was formed. This program works to reduce the illegal drug supply in the Youngstown area by sharing information and strategies with various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Congressman Tim Ryan from Ohio’s 13th district, which includes Youngstown, has made it his priority to raise awareness of heroin and opioid abuse. He introduced to Congress the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) in 2016 to help combat the heroin and opioid epidemic through the use of law enforcement techniques, prevention education and scientifically based treatment programs. CARA also allowed for a greater availability of the drug naloxone to law enforcement departments for preventing death from overdoses. More community services were also made available to help at-risk residents receive help.

To help Youngstown Ohio drug and alcohol treatment endeavors, the Drug-Free Communities Support Program helps strengthen local efforts to prevent minors from abusing substances. The strategies the program members use include:

Adjusting social norms

Lessening access to drugs and alcohol

Making policy changes

Developing creative media strategies

One award-winning program in Youngstown for the prevention of drug use among youth is the Youngstown Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program. One of the main goals of the program is to reduce the number of young people who use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through education and community recreational alternatives to drug use.

Drug Abuse Affects the Work Force

Drug use is impacting the workforce throughout the United States, but it’s felt especially strong in the Youngstown area. The labor force is diminished due to 25% of those applying for work in manufacturing jobs fail mandated drug screening tests. Many potential workers do not even bother to apply for decent-paying jobs because they know they will fail a drug test. At one Ohio machine factory, 4 out of 10 applicants for employment tested positive for drug use.

As a result of drug abuse in the region, employers are finding it difficult hire enough workers to keep pace with demand, making productivity lower than ever and increasing overtime costs for the workers who are already in place.

A local Youngstown roofing firm works with a nonprofit group, Flying High. This organization works with candidates on job training and drug treatment to help find suitable workers for employers.

Sober Living in Youngstown, Ohio

Once you’ve completed treatment for addiction recovery, it’s important to continue your sobriety in several different ways. It’s best to not re-enter friendships that enable or encourage drug and alcohol use. Instead, enjoy life with new friends who share your zest for living a drug-free existence. There are plenty of sober activities to engage in when living in Youngstown and the surrounding region.

Many treatment centers offer rehab activities such as yoga, mindful meditation and massage therapy for relaxation and de-stressing. You can continue these activities in Youngstown post-recovery, which will also provide you with opportunities to meet others with similar interests in living a less stressful lifestyle.

Other excellent sober activities to keep you engaged and centered in Youngstown include going to the movies or seeing a performance at the De Yor Performing Arts Center. The Covelli Centre offers wrestling tournaments, hockey games and theatrical performances.

Being out in nature is a great way to spend your time exercising and taking in fresh air and sunshine. Great outdoor spaces in Youngstown include:

For cultural activities, there are 10 popular museums to check out in the area. Art, science, industrial, railroad and a medical museum round out the offerings of interesting museums to investigate in Youngstown.

There are gaming activities to be a part of in Youngstown, such as the Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course and mini-golf at Sports World. Have a blast with friends at an escape room at Escape Boardman.

Help For Addiction Recovery in Youngstown

If you’re a young adult living in the Youngstown region and are suffering from a substance abuse disorder, help is available just a short distance away.

Silvermist Recovery is located in nearby Renfrew, PA. We have a 24-hour, confidential telephone line you can call for information about our accredited facilities. The admissions process at Silvermist is simple and convenient. Either call us directly or reach out to us online by filling out a contact form to receive a call from our team within the hour for a free assessment.

The comfortable environment at Silvermist lets you focus on making the changes in your life that are necessary, with the help of a friendly and knowledgeable staff of professionals at your side. Our therapists are passionate about the work they do, and they really care about our residents’ well-being.

When you commit to entering a recovery facility, it’s good to know beforehand what to expect. Silvermist has separate residences for men and women, with a small person-to-room ratio. The food quality is excellent, with a varied selection and substitute meals available if you request to make a different choice.

Being in a tranquil atmosphere provides a lot of what is needed during addiction recovery. There are beautiful natural landscapes at Silvermist, offering settings for outdoor exercise, like hiking and swimming, or just being able to look out at Mother Nature and contemplate life.

There are two treatment phases at Silvermist, with Phase II introducing residents to the independent living skills necessary for your return to Youngstown or where you will settle after recovery. The log cabin residence for this phase is a very short walking distance from the main residence.

Our Phase II treatment consists of practical life skill programs, like career and financial counseling and daily life skills. If you or a loved one is coping with addiction, contact Silvermist for drug and alcohol treatment near Youngstown today.